ASHLAND -- An Ashland mother who went missing after going on vacation with her estranged boyfriend has been laid to rest in her hometown.

Family and friends gathered for an emotional farewell to Lynn Jackenheimer, 33, on Monday.

Monday was a difficult day for them, but their work to bring her justice is far from over.

"We need to lean on each other and we need to lean on God, because we don't have enough answers for hard things like this," said Pastor Ted Risner, who officiated.

"Lynn was superb, this didn't need to happen to anybody," said Ron Mott, a family friend and neighbor.

More than 300 people gathered at Grace Brethren Church to remember a mother, a child, a friend, and a victim.

"She just really loved her children, and went out of her way to love them and show them care and concern," said Dick Riley, a family friend who officiated as well.

"Her laugh will be missed more than anything," said Vanessa Riley, a close friend of Jackenheimer.

WKYC cameras stayed outside the ceremony to give mourners privacy.

While loved ones share memories of Lynn, they haven't made sense of the tragedy.

Authorities say her estranged boyfriend, 27-year-old Nathan Summerfield, strangled her July 4, sending her family on a search to find her body in North Carolina. Police found Jackenheimer's body in a vacant lot in Frisco more than a week-and-a-half after she was reported missing. Summerfield returned home from the vacation on July 8 with Jackenheimer's two children.

"It's just heartbreaking that stuff like this can happen," said Mott. "I guess we all better be thankful that he didn't kill the kids."

US Marshals and others continue the hunt for Summerfield.

"Our focus right now is to catch him, bring him to justice," said Mott.

But it's a focus that will wait a day until Lynn's memory has been lifted up.

"Today is all about Lynn, and the family, and the children," said Riley. "Maybe tomorrow it will be and every day after that until he is found, absolutely."

Digital billboards have been posted on major highways in Ohio and other states to help find Summerfield, who was driving a gray 2009 Honda Civic with the license plate FMV 7540.